87R5459 JES-D
 
  By: Minjarez, Middleton, King of Parker, H.B. No. 2988
      Hull, Vasut
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to copayments required by a health maintenance
  organization or preferred provider benefit plan for visiting
  physical therapists.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 843, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 843.212 to read as follows:
         Sec. 843.212.  PHYSICAL THERAPIST COPAYMENT LIMIT. A health
  care plan that requires an enrollee to pay a copayment for an office
  visit with the enrollee's primary care physician or provider may
  not charge a higher copayment amount to that enrollee for an office
  visit with a physical therapist.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1301, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1301.166 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1301.166.  PHYSICAL THERAPIST COPAYMENT LIMIT. A
  preferred provider benefit plan that requires an insured to pay a
  copayment for an office visit with the insured's primary care
  physician or provider may not charge a higher copayment amount to
  that insured for an office visit with a physical therapist.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
  or after January 1, 2022.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.